Tokyo, Japan—-
"Out, out."
Zaria, Han, and Rika were forced out of a Kaitansha van and led through the lobby of a towering office building.
"Hey, excuse me," Zaria interrupted. "Are we gonna be briefed on where we're going, or?"
"Quiet, pipsqueak," the head agent ordered. "Director Hayate Tachibana demands to see you."
"The Director...?" Han remarked. "That can't be good."
"It's not."
They were escorted past a desk clerk, who lifted an eyebrow when she saw them.
"What's the issue this time?" the clerk asked.
"Illegal Floor-Exploration," the agent replied. "Kids' got no licenses."
"Tsk. What a pity. They look capable, too."
"They aren't."
Once they were in the elevator, the agent pressed the 100th floor. Two minutes later, they arrived inside a large office, where a stern man was busy taking calls, with a young woman standing next to him, silently.
"No, you're not allowed to explore the Hamamatsu Dungeon," the man ordered. "It's closed off for safety reasons. I don't care about your agenda! No means no!"
"Excuse me, Director," the agent interrupted. "I've got some rule-breakers for you."
"Hold on, I'll have to resume this chat later," the man told the phone. "Now then, elaborate, Agent Junpei."
Junpei dropped the kids in front of Hayate. "These three were caught on Floor 500 of the Osaka Dungeon, and they have no licenses or registration in our system."
"Illegal Kaitansha?" Hayate remarked.
"Indeed. It's a miracle they managed to survive."
"No it's not!" Zaria corrected. "Mr. Nyugawa saved us!"
"Please," Junpei scoffed. "Why would a retired legend such as Nyugawa bother with reckless kids such as yourselves?"
"It's true!" Han explained. "He came in, defeated the boss, and then casually walked out! Didn't you see him?"
"No," Junpei answered. "Now enough of your babbling."
Hayate stood up. "What are your Levels?"
"55, Sir," Zaria answered.
"51, Sir," Rika clarified.
"53, Sir, but close to 54," Han stated.
"Have you been exploring multiple dungeons illegally?" he asked.
They shook their heads.
"This was our first," Zaria explained. "We got ratings in the 50s because our Jugen Levels are Mid-Floor."
Hayate pondered this information. "Mid-Floor is a term only applied once you're a member of the Kaitansha. And it's far too weak to challenge the 500th floor."
"Then what Floor Rank do we need for that?" Zaria asked.
"Prime," Hayate told her. "On the higher end of it. Hundreds beyond your current levels."
"Well, good thing we have time, right?"
"No, no you don't," Hayate shut down. "As you are in violation of our rules, I can't just grant you licenses."
"Why not?" Zaria groaned.
"The only way a rule-breaker can receive a license is if they clear all 10,000 floors of a dungeon, in one go."
Han, Rika, and Zaria gasped.
"But no one has ever cleared Floor 10,000th!" Han blurted out. "No one except—-!"
"Omariro Nyugawa," Hayate agreed. "Thus, if you wish to become Kaitansha, the only practical path is to join his party and clear every floor of one of the 40 remaining dungeons. If you can't, you'll be arrested for your illegal hunting activities."
The three shared a look.
"How much time do we have?" Zaria asked.
"Twenty-four hours," Hayate ordered. "Best of luck. Junpei, deliver them to their destination."
"On it, sir."
And then, they were taken out of the office, leaving Hayate to turn towards the female next to him. "What do you think, Marin? Do you believe those kids were telling the truth?"
Marin glancing at him, her posture straight. "Unclear, sir. No one's heard from Omariro Nyugawa in a decade."
"Heh," Hayate laughed. "I wonder what he's been up to. The Kaitansha isn't the same without him."
Marin cringed. "Please, refrain from saying that, sir."
"Alright, sorry."
Minato Ward—-
"Here it is," Junpei stated, dumping the kids out of the car. "Nyugawa's last known location."
They were in front of a luxury apartment, with a gate to restrict access.
"Go on," Junpei demanded. "Your time begins now."
He drove off.
"I don't know whether to feel scared, or excited," Han admitted. "On one hand, we're meeting Mr. Nyugawa, and on the other, if we fail, we're going to jail."
"Is it possible to feel both?" Rika wondered.
"I do!" Zaria cheered. "Come on, let's see if he's home!"
She jumped the gate effortlessly.
"I think that's trespassing," Han pointed out.
Rika jumped the gate behind her. "Think on your own time! I'm not going to jail!"
Han sighed. "Women."
Once he scaled the gate, they walked up to the door, which had an old school doorbell attached.
"2025, and he's still using these basic doorbells," Zaria commented. "What a legend!"
She pressed the doorbell, waiting for a response. "Hello? Anybody inside?"
Nothing.
Rika knocked on the window and waited. "Nothing! I don't think he's here!"
"Where could he be?" Han wondered. "I doubt many people of his age and status go on city trips often."
"Hmph."
The teens jumped back as an elderly man holding a bag of groceries approached.
"Mr. Nyugawa!" they gasped.
"You are at my home," Omariro stated. "Why."
Zaria stammered and got into a bow, and Rika and Han did the same. "Sorry to disturb you! We need your help, Mr. Nyugawa!"
"No money," Omariro said. "None for you."
"No, no, we're not here for money!" Zaria clarified.
"But if you're offering..." Rika perked up.
Zaria elbowed her. "Anyway, we're kinda on the hot seat right now. If we don't clear all 10,000 floors of a dungeon by tomorrow night, we're going to jail!"
"Good luck," Omariro replied. "Goodbye."
"Wait, Sir! We're super big fans of you, we'd be totally honored if you could help us clear the dungeon!"
"Bad back," Omariro complained. "Goodbye."
He opened his door, but the teens followed him.
"Please?" Zaria asked.
"We'll do anything!" Rika insisted.
"I can't go to jail!" Han worried. "They'll skin me alive in there!"
Omariro pulled out an apple from his bag and started eating it. "Pity."
Then he closed the door.
"That failed," Han commented.
"Maybe he has a back entrance?" Rika wondered.
"Good thinking!" Zaria agreed. "Retreat to the back!"
Han slapped his forehead. "Seriously...show some class..."
At the back of Omariro's apartment, they found a sliding glass door, which Zaria and Rika carefully pulled back.
"Did he hear us?" Zaria worried.
"I don't think so," Rika replied.
Zaria motioned with her hands. "Move in, team."
She rolled inside. Rika crept after her. Han looked around before following. Inside the house was spacious and well-maintained, but dark.
"See anything?" Zaria asked them.
"I can't SEE a thing," Rika said.
"Ow, you're stepping on my foot!" Han yelped.
"Shh!" Zaria hissed. "We don't want to surprise him!"
"We're already in his house, what more do you expect—?"
CLICK.
A light turned on, and they froze in place. Omariro was sitting on his lounge chair, mixing coffee and eating a sandwich as he sized up the kids.
"Hmm."
"Heh," Zaria stammered. "Sir, I promise, this isn't what it looks like!"
"Yeah!" Rika added. "We're just...touring your residence!"
"Idiots..." Han muttered. "I deeply apologize for them, Mr. Nyugawa."
Omariro stood up. "Uninvited guests. Must deal with."
"Sir," Zaria gulped. "What does that mean?"
Omariro's body glowed with black and golden energy. "No leaving. Not unless you beat me."
"Wait, WHAT?" Zaria protested.
"That's impossible!" Rika moaned. "We can't fight YOU!"
"Yeah, the probability of us landing even a single scratch is 1 out of 100 quadrillion!" Han explained.
Omariro's body formed golden-black armor and a mask that covered his head. "Jugen-Tōshi: Cursed Hex Armor."
"Oh," Zaria realized. "He was serious."
A golden sword formed in his hand. The kids slowly backed away.
"Sir," Zaria pleaded. "I think this is a bit overboard!"
"Prove worth," Omariro stated. "Attack."
He slashed the air, knocking over a vase. They all evaded the strike, sweating profusely.
"Not good!" Han shouted. "Analytics won't help with this one, any suggestions?"
"You heard the man!" Zaria replied. "Though, I've got a better idea! Run!"
They raced down the hallway as Omariro watched. "Children. Funny."
By the time they reached the end of the hallway, they collapsed into a dojo-style room.
"Did we lose him?" Rika asked.
"Doubtful," Han said. "This is his house."
Just then, Han got chucked into one of the walls.
"Han!"
Zaria had little time to form her spear before Omariro brought his blade down, clashing with hers.
"Tōshi..." Omariro noted.
"Yeah, I'm in the Tōshi class!" Zaria confirmed. "Can we skip the live demonstration?"
He effortlessly chucked her into the air before delivering a kick to Rika's stomach, dropping her.
"Ow," Rika groaned. "I'm just the Healer..."
Zaria got up. "Okay, sir! If you want me to show you what I've got, then I'll show you!"
Zaria rapidly thrust her spear at Omariro, who blocked all of her thrusts with one hand.
"Sloppy," Omariro remarked. "Though forceful."
Zaria spun and tried to whack Omariro, but he was already gone. She whirled around, and he was behind her, backhanding her into a corner.
"Next."
Han extended his hand, and his cube formed. "Hexagon Cube: Scan for solutions!"
Omariro lifted an eyebrow. "Unique skill. You must be Jugen-Kōbisha."
Han nodded. "My cube can scan for any weaknesses or form traps to stop foes! Like right now!"
[Scan Complete. *0* Solutions Found.]
"Or...not."
He whacked Han with the hilt of his blade before resuming his attention on Rika.
"And you?"
Rika held up her hands. "I'm just a Jugen-Kaiseisha member! I do Forbidden Healing, which heals any wounds but takes time off your life! I'm not a combat specialist so please don't hit me!"
"Huh."
Zaria tried to attack from behind, but Omariro easily caught her spear without looking, before sending her flying into Rika. Han crawled over to them, and they all looked up as Omariro glared at them.
"Raw. Weak. Untrained."
They all tensed up as he stepped forward, but then, he shifted back to normal. "Okay."
"Okay?" Zaria questioned.
"Tomorrow," Omariro said. "Morning at eight. We go to Okinawa Dungeon."
"You'll let us join your party?" Rika asked.
"Yes. Exercise for back. Gotten soft."
"I wouldn't say you've gotten soft, sir," Han muttered, rubbing his own back.
Omariro turned back to the hallway, but Zaria interrupted him.
"Thanks a bunch, sir! Not to overstep, but where should we go now?"
Omariro pointed to a wave of doors. "Guest rooms. Used for guests."
"Okay, got it!"
In the blink of an eye, he was gone.
"Man, he's so badass!" Zaria gushed.
"Agreed," Han remarked. "Even in his 90s, he still moves like he's young."
Rika rubbed her stomach. "At least the pain was worth it."
"Someone drag me to my room," Han grumbled.
"Me after," Zaria groaned.
They all collapsed onto the floor.
Dojo Room, Morning—-
Omariro entered the dojo with a cup of tea in his hand only to find the trio knocked out on the dojo floor. He grabbed a staff off the wall and tapped it loudly on the ground.
"Wake," he ordered. "No more sleep."
They groggily got up.
"Eh...?" Zaria mumbled. "Is it lunch yet?"
"I don't think so," Rika whispered back.
They quickly snapped to attention when they saw Omariro watching them.
"Sir!" they shouted.
"Today. Okinawa Dungeon. All 10,000 floors," he announced. "You become Kaitansha."
"When do we head out?" Zaria questioned.
"Now. Outfits. Wear."
He tossed Han a black and golden hunter outfit, which had a Kaitansha jacket and pants, and Zaria and Rika two female variants, which were Kaitansha Dresses with thigh-high combat boots included.
"Are these for us?" Rika asked. "They look stunning!"
"More like 'kick-ass'," Zaria corrected. "I'll take it!"
Han glared at them. "You two have the exact same outfit."
Omariro removed his robe to show his own. "Ten minutes. Then, outside."
They dispersed and suited up before meeting Omariro outside his apartment, where he held his staff. Zaria stepped forward.
"How are we getting to Okinawa, sir?"
"Come close."
They surrounded him, and he tapped his staff on the ground. "Jugen-Sōunsha: Cursed Movement."
"I feel...funny," Rika remarked. "Is this normal, sir?"
"Wait for it."
After a few seconds, their bodies turned to golden light and disappeared.
Okinawa City, Japan—-
The party materialized on top of a building. Zaria peeked over the edge. "How did you do that, Mr. Nyugawa?"
"Special Technique. Come. We must enter dungeon."
He approached a rooftop door. As he got close, it shifted into a stone gate. "Entrance."
The teens lined up behind him.
"Will this be hard?" Rika worried.
"Yes," Omariro assured. "Be ready."
The gate opened, a red light shining from it. "We enter. Now."
He stepped forth, and the gate swallowed him. The kids shared a look.
"Well, he's the world's strongest man," Zaria noted. "We should be safe."
"Yeah," Rika said, calming herself. "Yeah."
"Either this or jail," Han recalled. "Leap of faith!"
He jumped in behind Omariro, leaving the two girls to do the same. Once everyone had entered, the gate closed.
〈Entry Detected—-Floor Level: 1.〉
—-